Protest over 4,500 homes plan near to M1
Planning officials have been accused of ignoring the Leicestershire public over plans to build more than 4,500 new homes.
Residents living close to the proposed site told officers from Blaby District Council at a meeting last night there had been a lack of consultation over proposals to develop 1,000 acres of land to the west of the M1, near Leicester Forest East.
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More than 250 people crammed in to the village's parish centre to hear council representatives outline the plans, though many said afterwards they feared it was already a done deal.
Bev Mitchinson, acting chair of the parish council, called for the opportunity for "full and meaningful" input from residents in future.
She said: "We do not support the argument that this site is the best option available.
"We ask Blaby District Council to address the serious affect this development will have on our residents and the resources that are already overstretched with the overflow from Thorpe Astley."
Villager Roger Green, 65, added: "We accept we have got to have a percentage of houses, but we seem to have to take it all in one place. We will be lobbying against the proposals but it feels like it is already a done deal."
Gary Clarke, planning policy manager for the district council, argued that the site had been chosen following five years of research and numerous feasibility studies.
He said efforts to reduce the Government-imposed target to build 7,600 houses in the district had been rejected by Whitehall.
"We are not saying everything is perfect," he said.
"We know there are issues and challenges that we have to address.
"But we have been given a target that we have to meet."
Under the proposals, the site, which is bordered by the M1 to the east and Beggars Lane to the west, would include three new primary schools, a secondary school, health care facilities and shopping areas, for a predicted 10,000 new residents.
Alternative sites at Glenfield and to the west of Kirby Muxloe have been rejected by Blaby District Council as untenable. Included in the plans is a 20-hectare site to be developed for factory and office space to the south of M69, in Enderby.
A six-week consultation period ends on September 10, at which point the council will submit its strategy to Whitehall.
10 Comments
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by Dave, H&B
Monday, August 24 2009, 12:32PM
“Heyyy,
It seems that incompetence is a general "planning department" problem all accross the country.
We have the exact same sort of problems in Hinckley and Bosworth and we all have been able to read similar stories all over the country.
It is time that these people pull their fingers out and start actually working, coming with man sized realistic plans and not half done plans that are just easy and convenient for them (because less work involved).”
by Sofa Tester, L.F.E. (The Traffic Jam Parish)
Friday, August 21 2009, 1:43PM
“Me'thinks I'll open a tea/coffes shop at Booze buster, they'll be plenty of customers in stationary traffic to serve”
by Pablo, Birmingham
Friday, August 21 2009, 12:55PM
“Why don't they build on top of the M1 too?”
by Paul, Hamilton
Friday, August 21 2009, 12:39PM
“Where is Mr LFE in this debate- he is always in favour of new house building so I thought he would be on saying this is a great idea.”
by stuart coar, Leicester Forest East
Friday, August 21 2009, 12:05PM
“So Blaby District Council decides LFE is the best place for another 5,000+ homes? - Well BDC you need to think on this FACT. Currently the A47 is at CAPACITY at rush hour. Even if every household within this new development only had one car, that would create another 5k vehicles needing access onto the A47 - How on earth will these vehicles be able to gain access, when currently some days the tail backs are from the Braunstone Cross Roads to the Desford cross roads(some 3 miles) - Add to this the FACT that the air quality within LFE during rush hour periods is very poor, so much so, that it nears the danger levels on many occasions, again a fact that BDC chooses to ignore. - Another 5k cars pollution will ensure these levels far exceed the legal limits.So BDC have a little think on this matter, residents of LFE pay higher council tax than many for living in a supposidley better area, with excellent surroundings and above all quality of life should be in keeping with the charges you make. If this plan goes ahead and pollution does worsen (which it will) I will be the first to chair a committe to ensure that the council tax of EVERY RESIDENT in LFE is REDUCED as our quality of life will be drastically reduced and pollution levels increased to a very unacceptable level. Belive me, I succeeded with the council tax increase and I WILL succeed in ensuring a reduction in council tax payments for EVERONE in our parish. This plan is completely un acceptable to the residents of LFE, Lubbesthorpe and Enderby and if those parishes join my petition, believe you me you will have a very large number of residents to argue with. So please think very carefully before you pass this one for permission!!- It could cost you a small fortune??”